Combined vibrator and vacuum apparatus.



J. &-w. BIRRELL.

COMBINED VIBBATOR AND VACUUM APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1911.

1,025,504. Patented May 7, .1912

A L I ATTORNEY UNITED sTArns PATENT OFFICE.

i JAMES BIRRELL AND WILLIAM BIB-BELL, OF -SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,ASSIGNOIRS, BY DIRECT AND MIESINIE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BIRRELL VACUUMVIBRATOR COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

COMBINED VIBRATOR AND vacuum APPARATUS.

King and State of Washington, have'in-' vented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combined Vibrators and Vacuum Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to vibrators for the treatment of certain formsof disease and to, vacuum inductors of the same class.

The object of the invention is to combine these beneficial agencies forthe treatment of abnormal conditions that their healing functions may beutilized simultaneously, separately or alternately.

Furtherobjects of the invent-ion will be apparent from the followingdescription ofv the invention and its application.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of afluid'actuated vibrator and-a fluid-jet induced vacuum apparatus,together with the adaptation of parts therewith, as will be hereinafterdescribed in the following specification, illustrated .in theaccompanying views, and finally set forth in the appended claims.

In said views Figure 1 :is a view of an embodiment of the inventionshown partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section with aportion of the flexible shafting broken away. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view" of the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionalview on the lines 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of-anattachment of the invention. 4

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a tubularcasing provided at one of its ends with an internally threaded socket 2which may be screwed directly upon the threaded bib of a waterfaucet or,as shown, similarly connected with an attachment 3 for making awater-tight joint with a faucet unprovided with screw threads. Theopposite end of said casing is enlarged to afford atangentially'arranged bulbous extremity-having an interior spheroidalchamber 4 provided with a considerable number of outlet holes 5 in itsbottom wall. Numerals 6 and 7 designate cone-avoconvex partitions acrossthe upper-and lower ends, respectively, of the tubular portion ofSpecification of Letters iatent.

said casing to afford a suction-chamber 8 therebetween. Axially arrangedapertures 6' and 7 are provided in the respective partitions in verticalalinement with the axis of the faucet receiving attachment 3, the

latter of which apertures is of larger diameter than the upper one. Thenumeral 10 denotes a tubular extension preferably radial to said bulband rectangular to said tubular casing 1. It is provided with a nipple11 at its outer extremity and its inner end is closed from communicationwith said chamber 4 by an axiallyalined plug 12. The bore 13 of saidextension is provided with a sideissuing outlet through a pipe 1 1communieating with the upper portion of the suctionchamber 8. 15indicates a rotatable shaft mounted axially of said extension 10 inbearings'in plug 12' and in the opposite wall of said casing at 16.Operatively' connected with said shaft is a jet power wheel 17 havingbuckets 18 at spaced intervals about its periphery. 19 is a disk fixedlymounted for rotation with said wheel and adapted to be impinged by aclamping screw 20 entered through a threaded hole in the casing toprevent at times the rotation of the wheel.

The outer end of the shaft 15 is extended into the bore 13 and thereconnected with an end of a flexible shaft. 21 by a coupling 22.

Said flexible shaft may be and is preferablyof considerable length andat its remote extremity is connected, as by acoupling 22, to a shortlength of rigid'sha-ft-ing 23 rotatably mounted in a vibrator head. Saidhead consists in a globular casing 24 having an interior chamber dividedby aywall .25 into inner and outer compartments26 and 27. 28' is aradially arranged tubular extension to said head integrally or otherwiseconnected at its'inner end centrally of said wall 25. An axial bore 29is provided in said extension 28 for the reception of an end of theflexible shaft 21 and its connecting rigid shaft 23, as beforeexplained. The latter is extended through a bearing in the wall 25 andits end protruding into the outer com-- partment 27 is provided with anarm 30 fixedly secured thereto in proximity of one of its endsandadapted to be revolved with the. shaft 23 in a plane parallel with thewall Said flexible shaft 21 is comprised of a length of relatively smallclosely coiled spring Patented May 7, '1912. Application filed July 31,1911. Serial No. 641,647. i

wire. Surrounding said shaft with an annular. space 31 therebetween is aflexible coiled wire sheath 32 fixedly secured at each of itsends-to'the interior surfce of the respective tubular extensions 10 and28. 33 denotes a section of rubber, or other yielding air-tight tubingincasing said metal elements of the shaft. It is engaged over the nipple11 and the like part 34 of the extension 28 and affords air-tightcommunication from the bore 13 to the bore 29 of the vibrator. Apertures35 and 36 respectively connect the last named bore with the innercompartment 26 and the latter-with the compartment 27. Access fromcompartment 27' to the atmosphere is had through an outwardly protrudingtubular nipple-37 adapted to receive an apertured applicator attachment38 (see also Fig. 4). Said compartment 27 is provided with a threadedventhole to receive a bifurcated screw 39 for regulative communicationwith the atmosphere.

4O denotes a cushion handle grip. overlying the tubular extension 28through which a secure grasp of the vibrator may be had and the latterconveniently manipulated.

The operation of the invention may be described as follows: Theapparatus is adapted to be attached to a water-faucet either through theemployment of the attachment 3 or coupled directly therewith through theinternally threaded socket 2. Said faucet is connected to a source ofwater-supply under pressure. Upon the water being turned on it flowswith high velocity through the aperture 6' of the partition 6 into thesuction chamber 8 and thence through the aperture 7 where it impingesupon the bladesof the water-wheel 17 to cause the same to revolve and isdischarged through the outlet holes 5.

v The rotary motion of the wheel is transmitted through the shafts 15,21 and 23 to the vibrator-head. The arm 30 fixed to an end of the shaft23, is rotated at a high velocity and owing to its unbalanced connectionwith its rotating shaft creates a series of rapid vibratory waves whichare communicated through the vibrator-head to the applicator. As thewater is forced through the aperture into the suction-chamber 8 and fromthence through the aperture 7 it creates a partial vacuum within saidchamber inducing a flow of air into the suction chamher through the pipe14 connecting with the bore 13. The influence of said suction iscommunicated through the annular space 31 within the tubing 33 to thebore 29 whence air is drawn through the apertures 35 and 36 to thetubular nipple 37 where access to atmospheric air ishad axially of thesuitable applicator attachment. It will be seen. that the vibrations dueto the rotary movements of the water-wheel and attachments, and thesuction communicated to the tubular nipple simultaneous and may beapplied at the combined so-called vibrator and suction head to manyuseful and beneficial results, both in unison and separately. Saidapplicators may be made in wide variety of forms toaccomplish thevarious functions of which the apparatus is capable. The form shown insection in Fig; 1 attached to the head is of a style favored fortreating the scalp. The projections 41 when vibrated and brought intocont-act with the scalp apply a mild beneficial massage to the skin atthe same time loosening any scale or dandruff that maybe present whilethe suction of air through the nipple 37 draws any dust or scaletherethrough and carries the same into the suction-chamber 8 where it ismingled with the water and discharged through the holes 5.

In Fig. 4 is shown a form of applicator through which the vibrations maybe communicated to the surface of the body and coincidentally apply apartial vacuum thereto. The device comprises flexible rubber annularwalls 42 inclosing a cup-like depression 43. The aperture 44 is adaptedto fit over the nipple "37 and when the outer perimeter 45 of said wallsis brought into contact with the surface of the body, the air israrefied in said depression by the aforesaid suction. The concurrentvibrations do not cause the partial vacuum to be impaired to any extentbut facilitate the movement of the device along the surface of the skin.This method of treatment combines the exhilaration and stimulationaccompanying the mild application of the vibrations with the localremoval of air pressure from the part inducing a mild congestion ofblood or hyperemia thereat with marked curative effects in some cases.The amount of air suction may be regulated independently of the velocityof the water jet and the speed of the water wheel by the provision ofthe bipletely close the same which will cause the entire pressure of thesuction to be felt at the applicator. The screw 39 may be withdrawn,however, to uncover a more or less amount of the slot therein which willrelieve said pressure atthe applicator to a corresponding degree. Noappreciable suction or vacuum would be felt at the applicator when thesaid screw is withdrawn to its maximum extent in order to affordopportunity for the-vibratory functions of the apparatus to be appliedindependently of the suctional effects. Likewise the rotary motion ofthe wheel may be stopped by the manipulation of the screw 20 to cause itto bear upon the disk 19 with suflicient force to maintain said wheel atrest. Thus it will be seen that the two primary functions of moving fromthe hair'of the person being.

treated all dust and germs as soon as loosened from its habitat andpreventing same from being set free in the atmosphere has beenrecognized as a valuable one andv one not heretofore available for suchpurpose.

While we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention withsome particularity we do not intend to be understood as confiningourselves to the precise form shown as. various changes in detail andmodification of design -may obviously be made within the spirit of theinvention, and within the scope of the appended claims.

'What we claim as our invention, is

1. In apparatus of the class described, fluid induced suction device, amotor operated by fluid discharged from said suction device, and meansincluding suitable connect-ions for applying suction and vibrationscaused by said device and motor.

2. In apparatus of the class described, fluid actuated means forcreating avacuum, power devices actuated simultaneously by said fluid,apparatus in common whereby said vacuum is applied and power fromsaid-devices is utilized in the form of vibrations, and flexibleoperative connections between sa1d apparatus and sa1d means and saidsuction devices.

5, In apparatus of the class described, fluid induced suction device, amotor operated by fluid discharged from said suction device, meansincluding suitable connections for applying suction and vibrationscaused by said device and motor, and means to cause said motor to beinoperative.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a fluid induced suction device,a motor oper-' ated by fluid discharged from said suction device,'meansincluding suitable connections for applying suction and vibrationscaused bysaid device and motor, means to vary the amount of suction, andmeans to cause said motor to be inoperative.

7. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a fluid actuated motor,

and fluid induced'suction device, a device for converting rotary motionof sa1d motor into vibratory waves in common with devices for conveyingand applying said suction.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a casing including a suctionchamber and a power chamber provided with means for attachment toawater-faucet, a motor in said powerI-chamber, a vibrator head, flexiblecon nect-ions between the casing and said head conveying in commonrotary motion from said motor and suction from said suction chamber. I

9. Inapparatus of the class described, a tubular casing provided at one'end with means for attachment to a water-faucet and at its opposite endwith a power chamber having discharge openings therein, aperturedpartitions in said casing spaced apart to afforda suction chambertherebetween, a 'fluidactuated motor .insaid power chamber,-

a vibrator head, flexible connections between 1 said motor and saidhead, means in said head to convert rotary motion of said motor intovibrations, an applicator attachment to apa continuous passagetherethrough, a flexible shaft rotatively connected tosaid motor andterminating within said head in an unbalanced arm, a covering for saidshaft affording a continuous air-tight duct therethrough, andconnections between said duct and the suction chamber. 11. In apparatusof the class described,a

casing provided with a means for attachmentto asourc'e of water supplyunder pressure atone end, a powerchamber provided with a dischargeoutlet at its other end, and an intermediate suction chamber, a fluidpower motor in said power chamber, a brake upon said motor,'a vibratorhead, an appli cator attachment mounted on said head, said head andapplicator having a continuous passage therethrough, supplementary meansto admit air within said passage, a flexible shaft rotatively connectedto said motor and terminatingwithin said head in an unbalanced arm, acovering for said shaft affordsuction chamber.

ing a continuous air-tight duct therethrough, and connections betweensaid duct and the 12. In apparatus of the classdescribed, a

casing provided with means for attachment with a source of water supply,a suction chamber, and a power chamber having dis charge openingstherein, a fluid actuated motor in said power chamber, a vibrator head,flexible shaft connections between the motor and head, means connectedto said shaft in the head to convert rotary motion into vibrations, anapplicator detachably secured to said head, and a passageway betweensaid applicator through the head and shaft to said suction chamber.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a casing provided with meansfor attachment with a source of water supply, a suction chamber and apower chamber having discharge openings therein, a fluid actuated inotorin said power chamber, abrake upon said 1 motor, a vibrator head,flexible shaft conneccasing provided with means for attachment with asource of water supply, a suction chamber, and a power chamber havingdischarge openings therein, a fluid actuated motor in said powerchamber, a vibrator head, flexible shaft connections between the motorand head, means connected to said shaft in the head to convert rotarymotion into vibrations, an applicator detachably secured to said head, apassageway between said applicator through the head and shaft to saidsuction chamber, and means to admit air into said passageway.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a

- casing provided with means for attachment witlr a source of. watersupply, a suction chamber, and a power chamber having discharge openingstherein, a fluid actuated motor in said power chamber, a brake upon saidmotor, a vibrator head, flexible shaft connectionsbet-ween the motor andhead, means connected to said shaft in the head to con vort rotarymotion into vibrations, an applicator detachably secured to said head, apassageway between said applicator through the head and shaft to saidsuction chamber, and means to admit air into said passageway.

JAMES BIRRELL. WILLIAM BIRRELL.

\Vitnesses H. BARNES,

E. PETERSON.

